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the seamen fell to fighting in the forecastle； with the
result that one of them was badly wounded with a knife； and
the other had to be put in irons。 Then； to cap the climax；
the mate fell overboard at night； and was drowned before
help could reach him。 The yacht cruised about the spot for
ten hours； but no sign of the man was seen after he
disappeared from the deck into the sea。
Every member of the crew and guests was gloomy and depressed
after these series of misfortunes。 All were apprehensive of
worse to come； and this was especially true of the
seamen who recalled all sorts of terrible omens and warnings
that had occurred during the early part of the voyage； and
which they could now clearly translate into the precursors of
some grim and terrible tragedy to come。
Nor did the croakers have long to wait。 The second night
after the drowning of the mate the little yacht was suddenly
wracked from stem to stern。 About one o'clock in the
morning there was a terrific impact that threw the slumbering
guests and crew from berth and bunk。 A mighty shudder ran
through the frail craft； she lay far over to starboard； the
engines stopped。 For a moment she hung there with her decks
at an angle of forty…five degreesthen； with a sullen； rending
sound； she slipped back into the sea and righted。
Instantly the men rushed upon deck； followed closely by
the women。 Though the night was cloudy； there was little
wind or sea； nor was it so dark but that just off the port
bow a black mass could be discerned floating low in the water。
〃A derelict；〃 was the terse explanation of the officer of the watch。
Presently the engineer hurried on deck in search of the captain。
〃That patch we put on the cylinder head's blown out； sir；〃 he
reported； 〃and she's makin' water fast for'ard on the port bow。〃
An instant later a seaman rushed up from below。
〃My Gawd！〃 he cried。 〃Her whole bleedin' bottom's ripped
out。 She can't float twenty minutes。〃
〃Shut up！〃 roared Tennington。 〃Ladies； go below and get
some of your things together。 It may not be so bad as that；
but we may have to take to the boats。 It will be safer
to be prepared。 Go at once； please。 And； Captain Jerrold；
send some competent man below； please； to ascertain the exact
extent of the damage。 In the meantime I might suggest that
you have the boats provisioned。〃
The calm； low voice of the owner did much to reassure
the entire party； and a moment later all were occupied with
the duties he had suggested。 By the time the ladies had
returned to the deck the rapid provisioning of the boats had
been about completed； and a moment later the officer who
had gone below had returned to report。 But his opinion was
scarcely needed to assure the huddled group of men and
women that the end of the LADY ALICE was at hand。
〃Well； sir？〃 said the captain； as his officer hesitated。
〃I dislike to frighten the ladies； sir；〃 he said； 〃but she
can't float a dozen minutes； in my opinion。 There's a hole in
her you could drive a bally cow through； sir。〃
For five minutes the LADY ALICE had been settling rapidly
by the bow。 Already her stern loomed high in the air； and
foothold on the deck was of the most precarious nature。
She carried four boats； and these were all filled and lowered
away in safety。 As they pulled rapidly from the stricken
little vessel Jane Porter turned to have one last look at her。
Just then there came a loud crash and an ominous rumbling
and pounding from the heart of the shipher machinery had
broken loose； and was dashing its way toward the bow；
tearing out partitions and bulkheads as it wentthe stern rose
rapidly high above them； for a moment she seemed to pause
therea vertical shaft protruding from the bosom of the
ocean； and then swiftly she dove headforemost beneath the waves。
In one of the boats the brave Lord Tennington wiped a tear
from his eyehe had not seen a fortune in money go down
forever into the sea； but a dear； beautiful friend whom he
had loved。
At last the long night broke； and a tropical sun smote
down upon the rolling water。 Jane Porter had dropped into a
fitful slumberthe fierce light of the sun upon her upturned
face awoke her。 She looked about her。 In the boat with her
were three sailors； Clayton； and Monsieur Thuran。 Then she
looked for the other boats； but as far as the eye could reach
there was nothing to break the fearful monotony of that
waste of watersthey were alone in a small boat upon the
broad Atlantic。
Chapter 14
Back to the Primitive
As Tarzan struck the water； his first impulse was to swim clear
of the ship and possible danger from her propellers。 He knew
whom to thank for his present predicament； and as he lay in
the sea； just supporting himself by a gentle movement of his
hands； his chief emotion was one of chagrin that he had been
so easily bested by Rokoff。
He lay thus for some time； watching the receding and
rapidly diminishing lights of the steamer without it ever once
occurring to him to call for help。 He never had called for
help in his life； and so it is not strange that he did not think
of it now。 Always had he depended upon his own prowess
and resourcefulness； nor had there ever been since the days
of Kala any to answer an appeal for succor。 When it did
occur to him it was too late。
There was； thought Tarzan； a possible one chance in a
hundred thousand that he might be picked up； and an even
smaller chance that he would reach land； so he determined
that to combine what slight chances there were； he would
swim slowly in the direction of the coastthe ship might
have been closer in than he had known。
His strokes were long and easyit would be many hours
before those giant muscles would commence to feel fatigue。
As he swam； guided toward the east by the stars； he noticed
that he felt the weight of his shoes； and so he removed them。
His trousers went next； and he would have removed his coat
at the same time but for the precious papers in its pocket。
To assure himself that he still had them he slipped his
hand in to feel； but to his consternation they were gone。
Now he knew that something more than revenge had
prompted Rokoff to pitch him overboardthe Russian had
managed to obtain possession of the papers Tarzan had
wrested from him at Bou Saada。 The ape…man swore softly；
and let his coat and shirt sink into the Atlantic。 Before many
hours he had divested himself of his remaining garments；
and was swimming easily and unencumbered toward the east。
The first faint evidence of dawn was paling the stars ahead
of him when the dim outlines of a low…lying black mass
loomed up directly in his track。 A few strong strokes brought
him to its sideit was the bottom of a wave…washed derelict。
Tarzan clambered upon ithe would rest there until daylight
at least。 He had no intention to remain there in